Ex-President Kim criticizes U.N. sanctions on N. Korea

Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung cast doubt Wednesday over the effectiveness of U.N.

sanctions on North Korea, warning the moves might trigger "dangerous clashes" between the communist country and the international community.

"Once economic sanctions are enforced, North Korea will launch stronger resistance and diverse, dangerous clashes are expected," Kim said in a speech to a conference in Seoul.

Kim, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his "sunshine policy" of engaging North Korea, also said "the U.N. sanctions would not have significant effects" in resolving the tension, as the North Koreans have long lived under sanctions the U.S. has imposed since the Korean War ended in 1953.

"North Korea is experienced in the poverty amid the sanctions, and resistance against foreign interference might bring them to unite together and succumb to the economic destitution," he said.

Kim also called for the United States to hold direct talks with North Korea to resolve the latest standoff which flared after the North defiantly conducted its first-ever nuclear test on Oct. 9.

"The U.S. government of President Bush has rejected talks with North Korea, and that led to a failure" in its North Korea policy, Kim said. "As North Korea said it would cooperate in the denuclearization of the peninsula if North Korea-U.S. talks are realized, the U.S. has to offer an opportunity one more time."

The North's nuclear test prompted the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution imposing far-reaching, non-military sanctions on Pyongyang. The North, in response, has said it would take "merciless" countermeasures" against any country enforcing the punitive actions.

North Korea has said it also wants to hold bilateral talks with the U.S. to resolve the nuclear dispute, but the U.S. replied the matter should be dealt with within the framework of six-party talks. The disarmament negotiations have been stalled for about one year, as North Korea boycotted them, citing U.S. sanctions for its alleged financial crimes.

Kim, who served as South Korean president from 1998-2003, held the landmark summit talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang in June 2000, which brought about a set of cross-border reconciliation projects such as the reunions of separated families.

Seoul, Oct. 18 (Yonhap News)